Introduction

During a summer break in college, I set out to solo hike the Pennine Way, a 267-mile footpath snaking across the moors of northern England. One day, my first goal was Stoodley Pike, a hill topped by a 121-foot stone folly. That morning, the Pike was covered in a dense fog, with visibility down to about ten yards. I lost the trail, and for about an hour, I had no idea where I was or whether I was hiking toward or away from the monument. I seemed destined to spend the rest of my holiday on the Pike, but suddenly the mist parted and right in front of me was the folly. When doing philosophy I am often reminded of that morning....